NASHVILLE — A Nash County man convicted of murder
narrowly escaped the death penalty Wednesday afternoon. Dexter Harris was
sentenced to life without parole after the jury failed to reach a
unanimous decision.

Harris is convicted of kidnapping and murdering Jodie Plew in 1995.
Plew's husband said he was hoping for the death penalty to give him and
the couple's 3-year-old son a sense of closure.

The suspect showed little emotion as jurors announced their decision.
Eleven jurors wanted the death penalty. Only one wanted the life sentence.

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